Photo courtesy of E.A. Michelson Philanthropy
February 18, 2026
In collaboration with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) is proud to announce the award of $2,230,000 in creative aging grant funding to 28 state arts agencies. Part of NASAA’s new Creative Aging, Creative Futures initiative, these grants will help state and jurisdictional arts agencies promote creativity, learning, well-being and social engagement for older adults.
This phase of NASAA’s ongoing partnership with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy builds upon the remarkable success of previous initiatives: Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging and States Leading Creative Aging. These vital investments have strengthened creative aging issue leadership for state arts agencies, significantly expanded arts opportunities for older adults, further integrated the arts into state aging services and enhanced expertise in creative aging program delivery.
“E.A. Michelson Philanthropy’s investments in state arts agencies have transformed our national public infrastructure to improve the lives of older adults across America,” said NASAA President and CEO Pam Breaux. “State arts agencies are now instrumental partners in addressing the most important challenges facing aging populations, including rising health care costs. The demand and need for this work will only increase.”
“E.A. Michelson Philanthropy is proud to partner with NASAA through our continued support of creative aging within our state and jurisdictional arts agencies,” said Ellen Michelson, founder and president. “We are delighted to see this initiative expand arts programming for older adults, supporting more classes, residencies and sustained creative opportunities that help older adults learn, grow and connect.”
The cohort of 28 state arts agencies receiving funds includes every region of the country. $77,500 grants have been awarded to the Alaska State Council on the Arts, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Colorado Creative Industries, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Delaware Division of the Arts, Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency, Illinois Arts Council, Indiana Arts Commission, Kentucky Arts Council, Maine Arts Commission, Mississippi Arts Commission, Missouri Arts Council, Montana Arts Council, Nebraska Arts Council, Nevada Arts Council, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, New Mexico Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Oklahoma Arts Council, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, South Dakota Arts Council, Tennessee Arts Commission, Utah Division of Arts & Museums, Vermont Arts Council, Virginia Commission on the Arts, Washington State Arts Commission, West Virginia Department of Tourism, and Wyoming Arts Council. As part of its investment, E.A. Michelson Philanthropy is awarding $60,000 to support relevant training from Lifetime Arts to states in the cohort that are new to NASAA creative aging funding.
With this funding, states and jurisdictions will advance creative aging work in ways that reflect their unique contexts, launching new initiatives or scaling programs where prior investments have laid a strong foundation. Through this support, state arts agencies will expand access to high-quality, sequential arts learning opportunities for older adults by reducing barriers to participation. Grant activities include strengthening direct programming, providing professional development for teaching artists, and cultivating cross-sector partnerships that enhance program delivery and support long-term sustainability.
For information about activities taking place in each state, see NASAA’s summary of Creative Aging, Creative Futures grant awards or contact the state arts agency. For more information about NASAA’s Creative Aging, Creative Futures initiative, contact NASAA Arts Learning Projects Director Meghan McFerrin at meghanm@nasaa-arts.org.